Reasons for playing the tiger's mouth discussion

    Keywords: Shape

discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the tiger shape, moved from that page by Dieter

Really this material should be merged somehow with the bulge page - 'bulge' is really hane with hanging connection as protection. Charles

[Diagram]

The tiger shape

The tiger shape is shown to the left (the three marked stones).

The shape is strong initially, because a white play at a can be captured by Black at b.

It creates a high potential for eyes, but in the long run it is a weak move that requires back up (creates gote? I'm still learning Japanese terms...).

Bill: In the short term it is overconcentrated. Can anyone imagine a reasonable sequence for Black to produce this diagram? Given any two of the the BC stones, the third one should be somewhere else.

[Diagram]

Requires a strengthening move

This diagram shows how the tiger can be attacked.

The tiger shape is also called the tiger's mouth, and is related to the trumpet connection.

-author: FCS


Well, the main reason why the tiger mouth is a strong shape is not that it is taking territory, but that it has high potential for making eyes.

[Diagram]

Joseki example

For example in this joseki a tiger's mouth appears. It is a very strong shape. An alternative B6 is playing at a which intends to reduce White's base along the side.

However, compared with a B6 has much more eye potential. A single black move at b instantly creates a live shape with two eyes at c and d.

--ArnoHollosi, 1d

[Diagram]

Joseki example

I think that the main point worth repeating is that the tiger's mouth or hanging connection is not about territory but about connecting two strings of stones connected through a kosumi. B6 connects BS and B4 just as solidly as Black a would do, but, as Arno points out, with eye potential.

In the example at the top, Black really has no reason to play the marked shape. Even without the offset stone, Black is connected through a one-point jump.

--MortenPahle


[Diagram]

Preventing the tiger shape

B2 prevents White from making a tiger shape. This is considered good for Black, when taken on its own (see diagonal attachment - as inferior shape). The result can also be seen as a weak player's diagonal for White. --Dieter


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